1. Could you please tell us about your family and where you live?

I live in the North Eastern corner of Massachusetts, known as the North Shore.  I am married to my husband of over 40 years, Bill, and 8 Tibetans ranging in age from 2 to 12, We have raised 2 children and now have 5 grandchildren.  Those of you that have known me know both of our children are adopted and our first litter of Tibetans and Paula arrived the same week.  Because two of my grandchildren live next door to us, we again have an on going play group for our litters.

2. Were you interested in dogs as a youngster or not until you were an adult? 

I have been interested in all animals; as far back as I can remember.

3.  What was/is your profession outside the sport of dogs?

I had many jobs through my life including working on some of the first personal computers but mainly I was a wife, mother and a lover of dogs.  Bill, being a chemist has come in handy checking what I could use around and on the dogs.  Now we are retired.  Bill enjoying his plants and greenhouse and my doing the dog shows, with his help.  And grandchildren are the best thing since TTs.

4.  What was your first breed and why did you choose it?

Before Tibetans, most of my dogs were mixed breeds, although we did have one Dachshund.

5.  When did you become interested in dog shows?  Was your interest in conformation or performance events?

When we bought our first Tibetan, Chubitang's Susan, part of the agreement was that she was to be shown at least once.  Tibetans were still in Miscellaneous so it was to get the breed out where the public could see them.  After that we had the bug and continued to show.  I only showed in conformation.  For the last 20 or so years, I have been on the other side.  I work with the local small specialty clubs as show secretary.

6.  Was your first breed strictly a companion, or was it obtained with the intention of showing in conformation or performance? 

Tibetans are the only breed I have ever shown, I had never been to a dog show before that.

7. When did you become interested in the Tibetan Terrier and how did you select your first TT?  When did you get your first TT?

We really did not do what we hope puppy buyers will do, we had a Cockerpoo that we lost at a very young age.  Soon after that we went to the Boston dog show, at that time it was a benched show.  We had a chance to see Fran and Frank's Chubitang and he reminded us of our Cindy that we had just lost.  We had a chance to talk to the other owners and breeders that were there.  That was in December of 1966.  Fran and Frank Corcoran were expecting a litter in January, that was it.

8.  After your first TT what caused you to become more interested in this breed? 

It was our first Tibetan that caused us to become interested in the breed.  She was smart, loving and everything you could ask for in any breed.  Jane Reif called her the ambassador of the dog world.  She greeted everyone in mid-air, so you better catch her.  We were hooked and the next year we imported Luneville Prince Kumana.  Who was at Susie's whims all the time and about always out witted by her.

9.  Do/did you have a mentor(s) in Tibetan Terriers?

Fran and Frank Corcoran were always there for us.

10.  How long were you in the breed before breeding your first litter? 

Our first litter was born two years after we got Susie.

11.  What is the most important attribute you look for in a stud dog?   brood bitch?

I look for the same things in either one.  You have to do your homework.  Study pedigrees and talk to people that can tell you what is behind the dogs you are interested in.  You try to improve where you can, while keeping your good points.  The only thing I do differently is that I am more critical of the temperament of the bitch.  Although I would never breed either a dog or a bitch with a bad temperament, the bitch is the one that raises the litter and how they interact with people is very important.  If the bitch's actions are negative, the pups can pick on it, like her action toward strangers.  I would not breed her no matter how many good points she has.

12.  Have you shown your own dogs or do you use a handler?

13. What would you say should be the main goal that any breeder should pursue in setting up their breeding program?

Breed to improve and enjoy your dogs.  Learn as much as you can about the problems in the breed as well as the good points.

14.  In your opinion how has the Tibetan Terrier progressed through the years, the good and the bad?

I guess here is where I get on my soap box.  When we got in the breed there were many things that needed help and I am glad to say we have done some great things.  When we started x-raying for hip problems about 50% of them were dysplastic.  We have worked very hard and we have greatly improved them.  Whole litters had slipping patellas, this has also greatly improved.  Mouths were a problem because the oriental dogs were bred for under bites, they felt that gave expression.  We do need to be careful because we can lose under jaw and that would change the look of the breed.  A nice tight reverse scissor can give a nice expression.  Missing teeth also were very common, as few as 4 incisors.  Late teeth were common, in some cases not getting teeth at all.  Here is one place I'm sorry to hear, there are breeders that are not trying to improve.  Instead, they tell their puppy buyers to take them to the vet and have their gums cut.  This is not a problem that is even hard to get around, why continue to breed stock with the problem.  Coats in most cases have been improved; fewer single coats are being produced.  I do see we are still seeing large dogs but not the great differences we saw years ago.  It was not uncommon to see dogs ranging from 13 to 19 inches in the same ring.  We still need help with the fronts, that is one part of the dog that is very hard to correct.  I have seen some dogs that are not "compact and powerful", more weedy then compact.  Our breed should be natural and a joy to us all.  We have made headway because we worked together, not by putting our heads in the sand.  I hope we can continue to do this, share information so we can continue to improve out wonderful breed.

15.  What would your advice be to a novice getting into the breed today?

Do your homework; attend a National if you can.  Study the breed video.  After this find a breeder you can work with and depend on.  Then do just that, ask them for their help and guidance.

16.  What books would you recommend as important reading on the TT?

Jane Reif's of course and there are a couple of them written in England but other then that there really isn't much out there on the breed.  Ann Keleman's a book on the breed is very good, just remember the rest of the book is just about the same on all breeds.

 17. If there was one person in the sport of dogs you would like to sit and have a cup of coffee with, who would that be?  (Does not have to currently living) 

I guess this is not really a good question for me, you see, I probably have done just that with most the important people in our breed, other then Dr. Greig.  I have visited Alice Murphy more then once and she did come to New England for a Bay Colony fun match.  I bought my first dog from Fran and Frank Corcoran, I had long conversations with Shirley Dickerson on the phone.  I had a great friend, Mari Thomas, who spent 3 days with me while she bred her bitch to Caspar, Ch Dokham Prin-Su's Caspar , teaching me all about anatomy.  But wouldn't it be great to have a cup of coffee with them all now that I have learned a bit and would be able to understand more of what they told me.

18.  Do you have any other comments you would like to share regarding TTs?

Tibetans are a breed that have a special way of working their way into your heart, if you allow them to.  They are so tuned into you that they seem to almost read your mind.  I always tell the people that buy a pup that one Tibetan always leads to another.  It takes time for you to get to know them, puppies can be very trying, and for them to get to know you, but when they do there is nothing like them.  There are things about other breeds that are endearing but none compare to ours.

Anyone that wants to learn about our breed should have Angela Mulliners books.